The Progressive Era Political Reform
Progressivism Not one single unified movement A wide range of economic, political, social, and moral reforms. Progress would only occur through human intervention to solve problems.
Origins Reaction against Social Darwinism Populism-agrarian revolt that swept through the Midwest in the late 19 th C. Called for government intervention, free silver, and many political reforms Populist Party or People s Party supported Democratic candidate William Jennings Bryan in 1896 Muckrakers - crusading journalists.
Progressive Goals Goals included (many Populist ideas) 1) direct election of senators 2) elimination of graft 3) woman suffrage 4) prohibition 5) protecting workers and regulating child labor 6) protecting social welfare Early 20 th century governors of the progressive bent with graft busting qualities were Hiram Johnson, Robert La Follette, and Charles Evans Hughes. 4
Progressive Presidents
Political Change All states move to a secret ballot by 1890s 17 th Amendment (1913)-direct election of senators State reform initiative (citizens originate legislation) Referendum (citizens vote on legislation) Recall (vote to remove a public official) Growth of socialism in America (Eugene Debs receives 1 million votes in 1912). 19 th Amendment (1920)-women's suffrage
LEADERS OF THE WOMEN S SUFFRAGE MOVEMENT IN THE Susan B. Anthony: 1820-1906 Lucy Burns 1879-1966 Carrie Chapman Catt: 1859-1947 Alice Paul:1886-1977
Economic Reform
CHILD LABOR In 1908, the National Child Labor Committee assigned Lewis Hine to photograph child labor practices. traveled photographing children in mines, factories, canneries, textile mills, street trades and assorted agricultural industries. Hine s photographs alerted the public to the fact that child labor deprived children of childhood, health, and education. A driving force behind changing the public s attitude and fueling the fight for stricter child labor laws.
Reforms Monopolies Roosevelt the Trustbuster Ida Tarbell-The History of Standard Oil Led to break up of Standard Consumer protection laws Upton Sinclair and The Jungle Influences Roosevelt and his Square Deal The Pure Food and Drug Act (1906) Meat Inspection Act (1906) Labor reforms/worker protection Keating-Owen Act (1916) first federal law restricting child labor Muller v. Oregon (1908)- set max work hours for women
Other Reforms The Federal Reserve Act (1913) Set up Federal Reserve System as the central banking authority of the United States Regulate the money supply 16th Amendment (1913)-federal income tax Attempt to redistribute wealth
Social Reform
Gospel of Wealth Idea outlined by Andrew Carnegie Still supported Social Darwinism Philanthropy- wealthy give back to society Give to libraries, education, the arts No direct relief Not enough for the progressives
Urban Poverty Settlement Houses: provided services such as daycare, education, and healthcare. designed to help the urban poor, especially immigrant families. Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr were the cofounders of Hull House, founded in 1889 in Chicago. JANE ADDAMS ELLEN GATES STARR
INSIDE HULL HOUSE
OTHER SETTLEMENT HOUSES
Temperance Women s Christian Temperance Union was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1874 and concerned about the evils of alcohol By 1916, 19 states had prohibition laws 18th Amendment (1919)-established Prohibition Carrie Nation
Rights of African- Americans The majority were poor and lived for the most part in the southern states. They worked as tenant farmers. Jim Crow Laws-were enacted in many Southern areas to promote segregation of Blacks from Whites Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)-court case that established separate but equal Blacks had little political control. Faced the brutality of mob violence and lynching, Ku Klux Klan.
African American Fight for Rights Booker T. Washington- educator and reformer argued that African Americans raise themselves economically, accommodate temporarily until they would win the respect of white society. The individual who can do something that the world wants done will, in the end, make his way regardless of his race. Others adopted a more activist stance, such as; Ida B. Wells the anti-lynching crusader W.E.B. Du Bois, Co-founder of the NAACP demanded an end to caste distinctions based on race "The Negro Race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men. The problem of education then, among Negroes, must first of all deal with the "Talented Tenth."
Progressive Presidents Overview
Theodore Roosevelt Square Deal Trust busting Arbitration RR regulation Health 1906 Meat Inspection Act 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act Environment Conservation** 1916 National Park Service
William Howard Taft Taft supported Roosevelt s Square Deal but more conservative. Taft v. Roosevelt Progressives turn against Taft and the Rep. Party Splits The election of 1912 Wilson s (D) New Freedom Taft s (R) Conservatism Roosevelt s Progressivism Bull Moose Party Eugene V. Debs Socialism
Woodrow Wilson Financial Reform Clayton Antitrust Act 1914 Underwood Act 1913 to Lower Tariffs Federal Income Tax Federal Reserve System Suffrage for Women with the19th Amendment in 1920